Genes are kind to top junior prospect Conca

CRAIG O&#39;DONOGHUEThe West Australian

Saturday, 29 May 2010 1:33PM

Genes play a huge part in an athlete's chances of success. Gary Ablett has benefitted from the genes passed on to him by a brilliant father and players regularly tell stories about their parents having good sporting careers as youngsters.

But for Perth midfielder Reece Conca, much of his success can be attributed to the gene that he avoided rather than the one that his parents passed on.

Conca is the exception in his family. His dad Loui, mum Gina, elder brother Luke and twin sister Cassie are all between 160-170cm tall. Yet Reece towers above them at 182cm.

Short players rarely get drafted. West Coast defied that process last year by selecting 169cm Claremont forward Ryan Neates and rookie listing his 167cm teammate Lewis Broome, but it's tough to succeed in the AFL when you're restricted by height.

"Everyone asks me where I get my height from. I don't really know," Conca said. "It's a bit of a blessing to have the height. Dad and Luke are handy footballers, but it's a lot harder for shorter players."

Conca has lived and breathed football for most of his life. Living across the road from a park, he and Luke battled through their own mini-wars after school and on weekends.

It became apparent from an early age that Conca had outstanding talent. He played a year above his age group once he turned 13, made his WAFL colts debut as a 15-year-old and represented Western Australia at under-15 and under-16 levels.

He is vice-captain of the WA under-18 team and will be a key player in today's match against South Australia at AAMI Stadium.

Now studying psychology and commerce at university, Conca captained Trinity College and combined school football with games for his junior club and Perth. In 2008 and 2009, Conca played about 100 games.

A hard-running, highly-skilled on-baller who is damaging around stoppages and has a similar style to Bulldog Ryan Griffen, Conca said playing so much football had brought his game to another level.

"It's been footy all the time for about four or five years," Conca said.

"I played 60 games in 2008 and at least 30 or 40 in every other year. The State team takes priority now so it's just them and Perth colts.

"Early on in footy I played a fair bit across half-back. But in the last couple of years I've been an inside midfielder."